The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is soliciting applications for grants to establish broadband in unserved rural communities through its Community Connect Program announced State Director Vicki Walker today. The program helps to fund the deployment of broadband into rural communities where it is not economically viable for private sector providers to offer service.
“Access to fast, reliable broadband is critical for our rural communities,” Walker said. “It helps rural entrepreneurs run their businesses and create jobs, enables rural residents to access additional education opportunities, and contributes to a higher quality of life. That is why USDA is committed to continuing our efforts to make broadband more accessible to those who live and work in rural areas through Community Connect and our other telecommunications programs.”
USDA plans to award up to $11.7 million in grants nationwide through the Community Connect Program. The grants fund broadband infrastructure to help foster economic growth by delivering connectivity to the global marketplace, as well as broadband for community centers and public institutions.
The minimum grant amount is $100,000 and the maximum award amount is $3 million. USDA announced new rules in 2013 to better direct Community Connect grants to areas where they are most needed and encourages potential applicants to review these rules before applying. Prior Community Connect grants cannot be renewed. However, existing Community Connect awardees may submit applications for new projects, which USDA will evaluate as new applications. The deadline to apply is June 17, 2016. For more information on how to apply, see page 22567 of the April 18, 2016, Federal Register.
Since the Community Connect Program was created in 2002, USDA has invested $160 million in more than 240 projects nationwide to bring broadband to unserved rural communities.
Since 2009, USDA Rural Development (#USDARD) has invested $11 billion to start or expand 103,000 rural businesses; helped 1.1 million rural residents buy homes; funded nearly 7,000 community facilities, such as school, public safety, and healthcare facilities; financed 180,000 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines; and helped bring high-speed Internet access to nearly 6 million rural residents and businesses. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov/results.